Sydney baby orphaned by car crash dies

A three-week-old baby who was orphaned after her parents were killed in a car crash has died.

The sad news came as her parents, Justin Schollbach and Leah James, were farewelled at a funeral at Sutherland in Sydney's south yesterday.

Lucy James — who was born 12 weeks premature and weighing just 1.3kg — was being treated at the Royal Hospital for Women in Sydney.

She died at 4am yesterday.

Her parents were killed on Tuesday last week while driving home after visiting Lucy at the hospital.

They died instantly after their car veered off the road and crashed into a light pole.

They had been visiting her twice a day since she was born.

Lucy was the couple's first baby together.

"Despite the efforts of doctors and nurses, Lucy passed away from complications associated with her premature birth," Dr George Bearham, the hospital's acting executive clinical director said in a statement.

"This is a very sad time for Lucy's family and all of those who cared for her here at the Royal Hospital for Women."

Ms James also left behind five other children aged between six and 15.